On the streets, theft of any kind is a punishable offence, with routine offenders set to stand before a judge before too long.
However, on the baseball diamond, grand larceny often leads to fame and fortune, all of it above board, of course.
Whether inching off first to pinch second, getting the jump and taking third or risking embarrassment for glory by going for home, baseball's best base-stealers have long got crowds up and out of their seats.
From the greatest of all time to superstars of the deadball era, here are the ten major leaguers with more stolen bags than anyone else.
But with Major League Baseball widening bases and creating caps on pickoff attempts, the invitation to go for second, third or home is likely to see some contemporary stars reach these heights in due course.
- Rickey Henderson (1979-2003) – Oakland Athletics/New York Yankees/Toronto Blue Jays/San Diego Padres/Anaheim Angels/New York Mets/Seattle Mariners/Boston Red Sox/Los Angeles Dodgers – 1,406 stolen bases
- Lou Brock (1961-79) – Chicago Cubs/St Louis Cardinals - 938
- Billy Hamilton (1888-1901) – Kansas City Cowboys/Philadelphia Phillies/Boston Beaneaters - 914
- Ty Cobb (1905-28) – Detroit Tigers/Philadelphia Athletics – 897
- Tim Raines (1979-2002) – Montreal Expos/Chicago White Sox/New York Yankees/Oakland Athletics/Baltimore Orioles/Florida Marlins - 808
- Vince Coleman (1985-97) – St Louis Cardinals/New York Mets/Kansas City Royals/Seattle Mariners/Cincinnati Reds/Detroit Tigers – 758
- Arlie Latham (1880-1909) – Buffalo Bisons/St Louis Browns/Chicago Pirates/Cincinnati Reds/Washington Senators/New York Giants – 742
- Eddie Collins (1906-30) – Philadelphia Athletics/Chicago White Sox – 741
- Max Carey (1910-29) – Pittsburgh Pirates/Brooklyn Robins - 738
- Honus Wagner (1897-1917) – Louisville Colonels/Pittsburgh Pirates - 723